Central Information Commission
Ampily G vs Hll Lifecare Limited on 26 February, 2026
के ीय सू चना आयोग
Central Information Commission
बाबा गंगनाथ माग, मुिनरका
Baba Gangnath Marg, Munirka
नई िद ी, New Delhi - 110067
File No: CIC/HLLLL/A/2024/137173
Ampily G .....अपीलकता/Appellant
VERSUS
बनाम
CPIO
HLL LIFECARE LIMITED, HIL
BHAWAN, POOJAPURA PO
THIRWANANTHAPURA, KERALA
695012 .... ितवादीगण /Respondent
Date of Hearing : 24.02.2026
Date of Decision : 24.02.2026
INFORMATION COMMISSIONER : Jaya Varma Sinha
Relevant facts emerging from appeal:
RTI application filed on : 18.06.2024
CPIO replied on : 17.07.2024
First appeal filed on : 05.08.2024
First Appellate Authority's order : 05.09.2024
2nd Appeal dated : 19.11.2024
Information sought:
1. The Appellant filed an RTI application dated 18.06.2024(online) seeking the following information:
"1. In the Annual Accounts reported 2021-2022 period, Consultancy charges paid is Rs 823.85 crores. Please give the list of consultants, amount paid, service obtained and mode of selection the consultant.CIC/HLLLL/A/2024/137173 Page 1 of 7
2. In the Annual Accounts of 2021-2022, doubtful advances reported is Rs 177.97 cores. List of parties, amount and reasons to be given. Any responsibility and accountability fixed for this very high amount which is repotted as un recoverable.
3. In the Annual Accounts reported 2021-2022, HCS direct expense increased from 150 cores to 318 crores. Details of the expenses and reasons form increase.
4. In the Annual accounts reported 2022-2023 Consultancy charges is appearing Rs 86 crores. List of consultants who were paid, purpose, services received and selection of the consultants needed.
5. In the Annual accounts reported 2022-2023 rs 200 is received from NHM Maharashtra for the Diagnostics services given. Please give details if any consultant or outside party help is involved in the collection fo this amount. Also consultancy charges paid for getting the payments collected.
6. Which are the consultants, outside parties engaged in the HCS operations and how these parties selected. List of parties and consultancy charges given, in past three years.
7. Is the company giving service charges or consultancy fees for getting orders from Kerala Medical Services Corporation, Tamilnadu Medical Services Corporation, Andhapradesh Medical Service Corporation, Telengana State Medical Service Corporation. List of parties, business value and service/charge/consultancy charges details be given.
8. Did the company receive refund of Liquidated Damage charges from Tamilnadu Medical Services Corporation? Details of the refunds received and the service chrges/consultancy fees give for collection of refund, party to which the refund given.
9. In the Annual accounts reported 2022-2023 rs 10.00 Lacs is donated to Kdappakkada sprts club for supporting patients with memory loss. Utilization report and benefits of this donation, criteria for giving the donations, minutes of the recommendation to be given.
10. In the Annual accounts reported 2022-2023 rs 300.00 Lacs is donated to National Flag Hoisted In Redfort New Delhi. The donation is considered for eradication of hunger, poverty, malnutrition, etc. Benefits of the donation of this amount, minutes of approval for the donation is requested."
2. The CPIO furnished a reply to the Appellant on 17.07.2024 stating as under:
"Ans to Q1: Consultancy charges is paid towards facilitation services, certification services, Medical professional services, internal audit services, security services and other services. The consultants are selected by mode of CIC/HLLLL/A/2024/137173 Page 2 of 7 tender, advertisements, interview etc. We are unable to share details of the amount paid, as the Information includes commercial confidence, the disclosure of which would harm the competitive position of a third party, and hence exempted under Sec 8 (1) (d) of the RTI Act 2005.
Ans to Q2:
Amount in Rs Party Reason
4,50,81,215.83 Gujarat Franchise Receivable for more
Customers than 3 years
13,66,37,704.06 Gujrat Medical Service Receivable for more
Corporation than 3 years
15,70,62,000.00 Central Govt. Health Receivable for more
Scheme Authorities than 3 years
66,17,000.00 Department of Higher Receivable for more
Education, Panchkula, than 3 years
Haryana
15,04,692.00 AP MEDICAL SERVICES, Receivable for more
Mangalagiri than 3 years
5,86,55,014.00 MOHFW Based on CAG
observation
CIC/HLLLL/A/2024/137173 Page 3 of 7
1,37,41,19,560.00 Employees State Matter pending with
Insurance Corporation AMRCD. Based on CAG
and Statutory audit
observation for past 4
years, provision was
created
1,77,96,77,185.89
Ans to Q3:
Details of expenses: The expenses booked under this group include consumption of reagents & consumables, lease rentals of machines, manpower costs, utility charges, third party services etc. Reasons for Increase: During FY 2020-21, due to Covid 19 Pandemic HCS revenue from operations were very less and was only Rs 226.74 Cr. However, during FY 2021-22 the HCS revenue has increased up to Rs 436.62 Cr. The direct expenses increased in proportion to increase in business volume/ revenue over the previous year.
Ans to Q4: Consultancy charges is paid towards facilitation services, certification services, Medical professional services, internal audit services, security services and other services. The consultants are selected by mode of tender, advertisements, interview etc. We are unable to share details of the amount paid, as the Information includes commercial confidence, the disclosure of which would harm the competitive position of a third party, and hence exempted under Sec 8 (1) (d) of the RTI Act 2005.
Ans to Q5: There is no consultant/ outside party involved in the collection of amount.
Ans to Q6: The outside parties involved in HCS operations are business associates, reagent rental service providers, equipment suppliers, reagent and consumable suppliers, sample outsourcing partners, manpower service providers, consultant medical professions, IT service providers, AMC/CMC Service providers NABL/NABH/quality assurance consultants etc. Various methodologies like tendering, advertisement, empanelment, interview etc. as per company rules are followed for selection of parties.CIC/HLLLL/A/2024/137173 Page 4 of 7
We are unable to share the consultancy charges, as the Information includes commercial confidence, the disclosure of which would harm the competitive position of a third party, and hence exempted under Sec 8 (1) (d) of the RTI Act 2005.
Ans to Q7: HLL is not giving any service charge or commission for getting orders from the specified corporations.
Ans to Q8: The question lacks clarity, hence we are unable to furnish any information.
Ans to Q9: The amount of Rs. 10 lacs was provided by HLL for supporting patients with memory loss by constructing a clinic. The activity comes under the area "promoting health care including preventive health" as per Schedule VII of Companies Act, 2013. Utilization Report and Minutes of Recommendation are confidential documents forming part of the records of Board meeting of the Company and hence the same cannot be shared. Application requesting for CSR contribution can be made by all entities having registration with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) to undertake CSR Activities. Ans to Q10: The amount of Rs.3 Cr. was spent by HLL for the National Flag hoisted in the premises of Red Fort, New Delhi up on India achieving 100 crore doses of vaccination for COVID-19. The activity comes under the area "promoting health care including preventive health" as per Schedule VII of Companies Act, 2013. Minutes of approvals are confidential documents forming part of the records of Board meeting of the Company and hence the same cannot be shared."
3. Being dissatisfied, the Appellant filed a First Appeal dated 05.08.2024.
The FAA vide its order dated 05.09.2024, held as under:
"The CPIO had provided relevant information sought by you, vide HLL reply dated 17.07.2024. The reply provided by the CPIO has been examined and found to be in order. Hence, your appeal is not tenable and dismissed."
4. Feeling aggrieved and dissatisfied, Appellant approached the Commission with the instant Second Appeal.
Relevant Facts emerged during Hearing:
The following were present:-
Appellant: Present through VC.
Respondent: Ms. Beena Achan L, CPIO-cum-Head (Legal), attended the hearing through VC.CIC/HLLLL/A/2024/137173 Page 5 of 7
5. The Appellant stated that he is not satisfied with the reply provided by the Respondent qua the instant RTI Application.
6. The Respondent submitted that a suitable and pointwise reply in terms of the provisions of the RTI Act has been given to the Appellant vide letter dated 17.07.2024. He added that the disclosure of information pertaining to consultancy charges contains commercial confidence and is exempted from under Section 8 1 (d) of the RTI Act. However, their office has provided aggregated and consolidated expenditure to the Appellant and the same is also available on their website in public domain.
7. A written submission has been received from Ms. Beena Achan L, CPIO-
cum-Head (Legal), vide letter dated 16.02.2026, a copy of which has been sent to the Appellant and the same has been taken on record. The relevant extract of the same is as under:
"It is submitted that, the applicant/appellant had among other queries sought details of consultancy charges amounting to Rs. 823.85 Crores reflected in the Annual Report for FY 2021-22. The copy of the online RTI application dated Nil is attached as Annexure I. HLL on 17.07.2024 provided the relevant financial disclosures as reflected in audited Annual Report except details of vendor wise details of consultancy charges. The consultancy charges in total is reported in the Annual Reports but the vendor-wise details of each consultant and the payment is not mentioned as they include commercial confidence and disclosure would affect the competitive position of third party. Thus HLL sought exemption under Section 8(1) (d) of the RTI Act and did not disclose the details of consultancy charges paid. Copy of HLL's reply dated 17.07.2024 is attached as Annexure II. Subsequently, the applicant filed an appeal dated 5.08.2024 against the reply provided by CPIO not disclosing the details of Consultancy charges paid to consultants. Copy of RTI appeal dated 5.08.2024 is attached as Annexure III. HLL furnished reply for the above RTI appeal on 5.09.2024. The copy of HLL's reply dated 5.09.2024 to the appeal is attached as Annexure IV. It is submitted that HLL refused to provide the details of consultancy charges paid to consultants as disclosing the same would affect the competitive position of third parties and thus exempted under Section 8(1) (d). It is further submitted that the information sought pertains to (i) Consultant identity (ii) Commercial rates (iii) Fee structures (iv) Contractual pricing model and (v)Service categories CIC/HLLLL/A/2024/137173 Page 6 of 7 These information constitute commercially sensitive information, disclosure of which would:
Reveal negotiated commercial terms Affect competitive positioning of vendors Distort future bidding processes Prejudice third-party commercial interests.
It is reiterated that as the information sought included commercial confidence, the disclosure of which would harm the competitive position of a third party and as the competent authority did not find any public interest at large in disclosing the same, HLL did not provide the information. The Appellant has not demonstrated larger public interest.
Since aggregate expenditure is already disclosed in audited accounts /Annual Report, there is no overriding public interest requiring vendor-wise disclosure. Hence, it is humbly submitted that the information sought by the applicant/appellant has been denied with bonafide intention and not with ulterior motives and humbly request that the second appeal filed by Shri Ampily may be dismissed."
Decision:
8. The Commission after adverting to the facts and circumstances of the case, hearing both the parties and perusal of the records, observes that a suitable and pointwise reply in terms of the provisions of the RTI Act has been given to the Appellant vide letter dated 17.07.2024 and the Commission upholds the same. No further action lies in the instant case.
The appeal is disposed of accordingly.
Jaya Varma Sinha (जया वमा िस ा) Information Commissioner (सूचना आयु ) Authenticated true copy (अिभ मािणत स ािपत ित) (Ashutosh Vasishta) Dy. Registrar 011- 26107042 CIC/HLLLL/A/2024/137173 Page 7 of 7 Recomendation(s) to PA under section 25(5) of the RTI Act, 2005:-
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